Ed Platzer was shocked when he recorded the second hole-in-one of his golfing career earlier this month
at Bowling Green Country Club.
And though recording a single hole-in-one is a defining moment for any golfer, notching one both right-
and left-handed is something that very few, if any, can stake a claim.
That is exactly what Platzer accomplished June 3 at BGCC. He drilled the 132-yard, par-3 No. 7 in one
shot to notch an ace left-handed after recording one right-handed 15 years ago.
?I didn?t even think about it at first. I thought well now I have two hole-in-ones. Then I thought, wait
a minute, the first one was right-handed and this one is left-handed,? Platzer said. ?It?s so bizarre I
still can?t believe it.?
Bizarre indeed.
According to the founder of the United States Golf Register, Jay Bowen, there was nothing in the
organization?s database (13 years worth) regarding anyone recording a hole-in-one both right- and
left-handed.
The U.S. Golf Register is the nation?s official historical registry of holes-in-one. The organization is
devoted to preserving history with each hole-in-one made, and recording the significance of the
achievement as a historical record.
?You know that expression: ?Even a blind squirrel finds an acorn once in a while,?? Platzer joked. ?I
found it twice.?
If his name sounds familiar in the Sentinel-Tribune sports section, that is because Platzer was the head
baseball coach at BGSU from 1983-90 and played baseball and football at BGSU from 1967-71.
Despite being a natural lefty, Platzer, who lives in BG with his wife Nancy, learned to play golf
right-handed when he began playing the sport in junior high. It was not until four years ago when a
friend was looking to get rid of his left-handed clubs that Platzer purchased the clubs and began
golfing left-handed.
?There were no left-handed clubs (growing up), so I learned to play right-handed,? said Platzer.
Platzer said he does not consider himself a true golfer as he plays maybe 15 times a year and has a
handicap over 20.
?I thought I?m so bad right-handed, why not (play left-handed),? Platzer said. ?I felt more comfortable
swinging left-handed … I don?t think I?m any better. But if I ever get in a spot where I need to hit
right-handed, I can do it. It doesn?t feel unnatural.?
Platzer recorded his first ace in 1994 at a course in Ocean Isle Beach, N.C.
Even though he is a natural lefty, it took Platzer some time to get comfortable playing left-handed.
?The hardest part, sometimes when you?ve played right-handed all your life and then your playing
left-handed ? going up to the ball and getting on the wrong side of the ball,? Platzer said. ?I?d have a
left-handed club in my hand and I was trying to hit it right-handed.?
But now Platzer seems to have the left-handed game down, so much so that he?s accomplished something that
is so rare there is no record available of it ever occurring.
?I?m not one of these guys that plays and gets real serious. In fact this particular day when (the second
hole-in-one) happened we weren?t even keeping score. We were just playing,? Platzer said.
?I?ve probably played it 20 times and never got over the water,? said Platzer of No. 7 at BGCC. ?The one
time it went over the water it went in the hole.?
And though Platzer admits luck might have played a role in his accomplishment, he has some simple
encouragement for golfers yet to experience a hole-in-one.
?I really feel sorry for those guys that don?t have a hole-in-one. They?re probably really upset and
saying, ?Who is this guy? I?ve been playing every day and haven?t even been close,?? Platzer said. ?It
can happen, I guess. It can happen to me. I?m still in shock.?
Platzer now works for Wood County Education Services where he serves as the Director of Community Service
and Regional Projects. He has three adult children: sons Todd and Brad, and daughter Erin, who is a
junior high math teacher at Bowling Green Junior High.